Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte spoke ahead of Premier League opener against West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

“This league is a fantastic league – Conte told journalists – very tough and the most important in the world,”

“Of course there are many great clubs we have to fight with to win, also fantastic players and also good managers, but we are all ready”.

Chelsea manager added: “I bring my experience and I think that every single manager has to improve not only tactical aspects but also to improve the recovery after a game or the physical condition to avoid the injuries.”

“I bring my experience and I try to transfer this to my players”.

Then, when asked about his new habits in England, the 47-year-old ended: “In england there is the great habit of music in the changing room, in Italy does not exist, this is a new habit for me”.

“Which music would I choose? I would choose discoteque music, boom boom!”

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has confirmed during his press conference ahead of the Premier League opener against West Ham that midfielder Nemanja Matic won’t move this summer despite manager’s former side Juventus are said to be really keen on the Serbia international.

“Nemanja is an important player for me and he knows this – the 47-year-old said – there isn’t a problem between me and him. Nemanja is a Chelsea player.”

Then the Blues’ manager has confirmed the 28-year-old will stay put at Chelsea despite rumors linking him with an exit this summer following the last disappointing season at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea youngster Bertrand Traore has put the pen to paper on a new three-year contract with the Blues before joining Ajax on loan for the 2016/17 season.

The Burkina Faso striker is set to reunite with his former manager Peter Bosz, who was in charge at Vitesse when the 20-year-old was on loan from Chelsea in 2014. He managed to score 17 goals in that awesome season with the Geel en Zwart, before heading back to the Stamford Bridge last season, in which he scored twice in 10 appearances.

“Traore a good player and we prefer he plays every game this season” confirmed Antonio Conte during Chelsea’s press conference ahead of the Premier League opener against West Ham.

Chelsea will face West Ham in the Premier League opener on the 15th of August (7pm GMT) at Stamford Bridge.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is confident the Hammers can beat Chelsea in the same way his side did against Arsenal in the Premier League opener last season.

The 47-year-old, speaking about Antonio Conte, claimed: “He is a great manager who did a terrific job with Juventus and Italy. He is one of them that wants to put a stamp on his team, not just to continue what the previous managers have done but change the way they approach the game, to change the principles and change the nature of the game. He is one of them, and that is why I rate his so highly”.

“Is he going to do it straight away? It is more difficult, of course, to make an impact straight away, to change the long-term habits the players have, especially when they are big players at a big club like they are,”

Chelsea are still keen on bringing back their former striker Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge despite Everton have recently offered him a new and improved contract.

Newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman claimed: “He is still an Everton player but finally the board makes those kind of decisions,”

“Of course, I would like to keep all my best players but I know football. I know business. Let’s wait, the club is doing everything to keep all the players we’d like to keep in the team.”

The Toffees’ boss has confirmed his board “will do business for three or four more players” and this could be te key to allow the Belgium international striker to leave the Goodison Park when a replacement is found.

The Koeman side are reportedly edging even closer to signing Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolasie for around £28m, which is the equal fee that Everton paid to make Lukaku’s deal permanent from Chelsea in 2014.

Chelsea are interested in signing both Santos stars Gabriel Barbosa and Thiago Maia, according to reports in England.

Also InterMilan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Leicester City have all been heavily linked with a move for Brazilian striker Gabigol, who is currently playing the Olympic Games with his national team and whose ownership is reportedly esteemed around £25m.

Brazilian side’s president Modesto Roma told Goal.com: “We had productive conversations, but we didn’t come to buy or sell players, neither in London or Madrid”.

“We came to build up relationships. There weren’t offers, but we did talk about partnerships. I talked to Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid”.

It is understood the Blues and the president have set up a meeting to discuss over a potential move for 19-year-old midfielder Thiago Maia, after Chelsea made an approach last month.

According to the Evening StandardSantos chairman Modesto Roma were in London on Tuesday to seal the deal to bring Thiago Maia to Chelsea, but the deal has yet to be done.

Chelsea squad underwent a sell-out open training session wanted by new manager Antonio Conte yesterday and Belgium international striker Michy Batshuayi wanted to share his feelings following the squad presentation at Stamford Bridge by posting a picture.

“Thank you captain for backing me” he wrote on his official Twitter account.

Chelsea defender Matt Miazga is set to leave Stamford Bridge on loan as Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt have entered talks over a potential move, according to Sport Bild.

The 21-year-old has missed Chelsea training session yesterday and speculation over his future are growing up, also given that he didn’t play a single game during the pre-season in the United States.

Miazga joined the Blues from New York Red Bulls last January and managed to make just two appearances in the Premier League under Guus Hiddink‘smanagement.

Anyway, Antonio Conte considers him a good profile but has reportedly admitted he could let the centre-back leave on loan this summer in order to gain experience: “He’s a young player, he has a good technique and I think he is working very well under the physical aspect, but the tactical aspect he can improve a lot and I think that he is improving with his work”.

Chelsea attacking-midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek spoke about the incoming Premier League season and praised new manager Antonio Conte, who led the squad during the pre-season campaign: “The whole squad have been working really hard – he told the club’s official website – we all put in the work and we’re ready to go on Monday. We look good and we look sharp, we’re working tactically on our shape and we’re really excited”.

Then the 20-year-old added: “The manager has been great; he’s a really nice man. During training, one thing I’ve really noticed is that he’s always trying to help you and coach you individually”.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’ve come over from the Academy or if you’re a top player like John Terry, he’s always trying to make you better which is something I admire about him”.

RANDOM POSTS

Speaking during his press conference ahead of tomorrow's Carabao Cup's quarter final vs Bournemouth, Sarri's assistant coach Gianfranco Zola explained he is not sure Gary Cahill will leave Chelsea during the January transfer window.
"It is difficult...